Air and steam eng-ine



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, F. B. BLANCHARD, OF WATERVILLE, MAINE.

AIR AND STEAM ENGINE.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 13,209, dated July 10,1855.

To au whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANCIS BROWN BLANCHARD, of Waterville, in thecounty of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented a new and usefulApparatus for Grenerating Motive Power from Heated Air, Steam, and theProductsof the Combustion of Coal or other Fuel; and I do hereby declarethat the same is fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, letters, figures, andreferences thereof.

Of the said drawings, Figure (Sheet 1) is an isometrical view of myinvention. Fig. 2, (Sheet l) is a longitudinal and central section of anair condenser to be hereinafter described. Fig. l, (Sheet 2) is a topview of the boiler of myinvention. Fig. 2, (Sheet 2) is a verticalcentral and longitudinal section of the said invention, said sectionbeing taken through the line l, 2, of; Fig. 3, (Sheet 2) is a verticalSheet No. 2. and transverse section of the invention it being taken onthe line 3, 4, of Fig.- l. Fig. 4, is a transverse and vertical sectionof the invention taken through the line 5, 6, of F ig.`

1. Fig. 5, is a similar section taken on t-he line 7, 8, `of Fig. 1.

By this apparatus it is intended that the smoke arising from combustionshall be consumed within a closed furnace and in connection withcompressed air introduced within the furnace. The same may be said withregard tothe volatile products of combustion that are susceptible ofbeing consumed by heat. The volatile products that are not combustiblebeing made to pass through the flues and to yield a portion of theirheat to the water of the boiler so as to aid in the formation of steamwhile they are subsequently united wit-h steam and used in connectiontherewith as an effective force or motor for operating the piston of asteam engine cylinder. The exhaust from the engine is to be caused topass through a tubular feed water vessel (in communication with theboiler) and from thence through an air vessel of similar constructionmade to communicate with the furnace. The exhaust enters the top of eachvessel and passes off at the bottom of each'. The colder por tion beingthe heavier passes off while the lighter and hotter portions remainingin the vessel until it has expended its heat when it will pass downwardand give place to other portions that may be flowing into the 'that maybe resting upon it.

vessel. Steam if formed in the water vessel will pass into the boiler.,In this manner a portion of the heat which would otherwise be lost inthe exhaust is carried back into the boiler and furnace and again madeto do duty.

Having thus premised I will proceed to explain the peculiar features ofmy invention, wishing it to be understood that the same letters ofreference are intended to exhibit like parts in the severalv figures'.

A, is the boiler made in form somewhat like. that used in ordinarylocomotive steam engines and provided with a ire box, B.

c, c', are cylindrical or other proper shaped chambers for collection ofthe volatile product-s of combustion. these chambers is separated fromthe .fire box or furnace by a brick partition D, having openings, a, a,for the volatile products of combustion to pass from the fire box intothe chamber, C. Said two chambers, C, C', are connected by a stock ofhollow tubes or pipes, b, o.

E is a pipe through which the fuel is supplied to the re box; such pipebeing supplied with two valves, viZ, a slide valve, c, and a hingedvalve, d.

e is a pipe for relieving the valve of the pressure during the operationof charging or supplying the fire-box with fuel. 'This pipe has twococks, 1, and 2, and is made to connect or open into the spaces directlyabove and below the valve d, as seen in Fig. 3, (Sheet 2).

The valve c, is opened or closed by means of a screw The fuel is putintothe pipe, E, through a tunnel, c, at its top and rests on the valve, cl,the valve, c,.being supposed to be open. This being effected the valve,c, is to be closed and the cock, 2, in pipe e, to be open. Thisoperation will equalize the pressure on the opposite sides of the valved, and permit said valve to be let downward by means of its handle, y,so as to discharge into the furnacethe fuel Next, the valve, d, andcock, 2, are to be closed and the cock 1 opened thereby not only Causingpressure to be exerted on the valve, d, butl relieving the valve, c, sothat it may be open preparatory to another charge of fuel being throwninto the mouth Z.

F, is a rectangular or other proper shaped chest or chamber situated atthe lower end of, and makingy part of the pipe E, and

The first of A made to open into the fire box B. lThis chest is providedwith a fuel distributer f, which is a turning plate or valve operated orturned by means of a screw g. By set ting this distributer at anydesirable angle the fuel that drops through the pipe, E, may

be reflected or distributed in a longitudinal direction to any desirablepart of the furnace. The transverse distribution of the fuel may beeffected by means of a hollow ridge or vessel G, (formed triangular incross section) assisted by the inclination of the grate bars L, L, whichare arranged in the furnace as seen in the drawings. These grate barsare to be formed of wrought metal pipes and made to communicate with thewater space, H, H, surrounding the Erebox, the water of the boiler beingsuiicient to flow freely through the pipes. The water is also made tofreely circulate through the ridge or hollow vessel, G, by means ofpipes, z', z', one passing out of its top and the other out of itsbottom and being made to open into the water space of the boiler.

Air is to be supplied to the furnace by means of one or more air pumps,by which it is to be made to flow into the receiver, I, see Fig. 1,(Sheet I) and from thence by pipes J, J and j, j, into the furnace, itbeing carried both above and below the fire grate as seen in Fig. 3,(Sheet 2).

7c, Fig. 1, (Sheet 1) is a pipe made to communicate with the steam spacein the boiler, and that part of the fire box which is under the grate,such pipe being for the purpose of conveying steam to the furnace.

The line K, denotes the water line of the boiler.

Z, Z, are pokers or rakers operated through air tight universal joints,m, m. These pokers are used for cleaning the grates of ashes and rakingthe same into the valve chamber L, said pokers or rakes beingconstructed in any suitable manner to enable such to be easilyaccomplished. The said chamber L, is provided with a slide valve,through the opening of which the refuse of the grates may be removedfrom the firebox as occasion may require.

The furnace is provided with sight tubes,

0, 0, which are formed tapering and respectively provided with disks ofplate glass or other suitable transparent material held in place by nutsp, p, and proper packing.

lg, g, are cocks for the discharge of ashes from the chambers, C, C,such cocks being applied to such chambers or tubes leading out of thesame as seen in Fig. 2 (Sheet 2). The chamber C, is provided with anetwork partition or perforated diaphragm, T, the object of which is toprevent the passage of ashes or cinders into the pipe N,

'leading out of said chamber.

M, M, are pipes passing from the steam space of the boiler into thechambers C, G,

such pipes being provided with valves on their upper ends as seen inFig. 2 (Sheet 2). These valves are operated or raised and depressed byscrews 11, r.- By means of these` pipes steam from the boiler can beadmitted to the chambers, C, C', in order that it may be mixed .with thegases, air, or volatile products of combustion that may be therein.

s is a tube that extends downward through the boiler into the chamber C.This tube is closed at its lower end and open at its upper end in orderthat a thermometer may be suspended in it for the purpose ofascertaining the temperature of the steam, air and gases previous to thepassage of the same into the engine.

N, Fig. 2 (Sheet 2) is the eduction pipe that leads fromthe chamber, C,to the engine or the valve chest of the cylinder thereof. This pipe hasa branch pipe O, which contains a slide valve t, that may be opened whenthe valve o-f the engine pipe is closed, such engine pipe being supposedto be provided with a closing valve. The valve, n, beneath the furnaceis likewise opened at the same time, this lat-ter valve allowing a freeadmission of air into the furnace while the former permits the escape ofthe gases, during the process of setting the fuel on fire or during anytemporary suspension of the action of the air pump.

The heater for the feed-water is seen at P. It is constructed like theair heater, I, that is to say it is the cylindrical vessel divided intothree chambers by two horizontal partit-ions, between which a stack ofpipes extends and opens free communication bed tween. the two externalchambers. The said heater, P, is placed between the boiler and feedpump. The exhaust of hot air, gases and steam from the engine should bemade to pass into the heater by a pipe, u, see F ig.l 1, (Sheet 1),which opens into the middle chamber thereof. The exhaust thus surroundsthe tubes of the heater or is in contact with their external surfaces,while the feed water occupies the two external chambers and the internalparts of the tube. From the internal chamber the exhaust or air gasesand steam pass off by the pipe, o, into the air receiver I, and surroundthe tubes externally as in the water heater. The cold air is made topass from theair pump through the pipe, fw, and into the air receiver,I, and through its tubes and from thence into the furnace by the pipes,J, J, becoming heated during its progress through the tubes by thecalorie imparted to them by the exhaust which is allowed to flow fromthe air heater into the atmosphere or into pipes to heat buildings.

Upon the boiler I have placed a safety valve, R. Between the air pumpsand the air receiver, I, I sometimes make use of resented in verticaland longitudinal section in Fig. 2 (Sheet 1). It is a cylindrical vesseldivided by cross partitions into several compartments b, b, Z), whichare connected by openings in their partit-ions respectively providedwith valves, a, a. Each of the compartments, Z), has a stack of pipesextending through it, which are supported in partitions extendingtransversely across the interior of the air condenser, t-he same beingas seen in the drawings. Each end of the condenser is provided with apipe as seenat, A, and, B, the air from the air pumps being made to passinto the vessel by the pipe A, and by the pipe B, to proceed from itinto the air receiver, I The external surfaces of each tube of thestacks of the condenser are to be kept in contact with cold water inorder that when air is passed through the pipe, the temperature of itmay be reduced and the resistance on the air pumps proport-ionablydecreased.

rThe 'two pipes M, M, leading from the steam space into the chambers, C,C, are not only to admit steam into the chambers C, C so as to comminglewith the gases of the furnace, but they are for the purpose ofregulating the temperature of the mixture before it is made to enter theengine. Provided the steam be admitted into the chamber nearest thefurnace it will take up a portion of the heat therein, thus reducing theheat of the gases thereof and increasing the rapidity of the currentpassing through the stack of pipes into the chamber, C. Such an increasein the velocity of the current will of course cause it to yield up lessof its heat to the tubes than would result were it to remain longer incontact with them.

In case we admit steam into the chamber C', the volume to pass throughthe tubular stack will be diminshed, consequently its motion will beslower and after it has expended most of its heat in the tubular sectionor stack, it will come in contact with the steam, to which it will yielda portion of its heat until the temperature of the mixture is equalized.The tubes can be constructed with such length and surface as may befound to enable them tooperate to the best advantage.

The tubular air receiver shown in Fig. 2. (Sheet l) was described, asbeing divided into compartments with a valve to each of them. The designof this is that the air which may be lodged in each section, at eachstroke of the air pump shall be held from going back out of the same. Asthe pipes of such sections or compartments are brought in contact withwater colder than that of the atmosphere in the air condenser the airfrom the air pump will not have the same resistance in the whole stroke,as the valves will successively open according as heat has been thrownoff in the sections during the time the air pump is making its returnstroke.

In operating with my apparatus, the furnace is to be chaarged with coalor fuel, which being ignited bellowsmay be used to promote combustion,or the valve under the ash pit may be opened so as to admit air to thefire until the fuel is thoroughly kindled. Under these circumstances,the valve or cock of the pipe communicating with the engine should beclosed, and the valve, t, of the branch communicating with the chimneyopened, until the combustion is active enough to consume the combustiblegases. This done the chimney valve should be closed, the engine valveopened and the engine put in motion. The valve, a, should be closed, andthe air to the furnace be supplied by the air pumps. When the steam isup it should be allowed to flow from the steam space into either of thechambers, C, C. If more expansive fo-rce and less evaperation is wanted,the steam and a portion of air should be admitted to that chamber whichis nearest to the furnace. If more evaporation and less expansion bedsired the steam should be admitted to the other chamber, allowing theheat of the gases in the chamber, C, to expend itself in the water. Thesaid two chambers and their pipes M, M, thus operate as a regulator ofthe temperature of the mixture of steam, air and gases to be introducedinto the engine steam being admitted to the gases through either or bothof the pipes and in such quantities as occasion may require. The pipesof the stack should be long enough or there should be a sutlicientquantity of them to reduce the temperature of the gases low enoughtoenable them to be passed through the engine with the steam withoutinjuriously affecting the lubricating matter applied to the piston.

A regard to the preservation of the oil or lubricating matter of thepiston should be specially had in this apparatus, and hence theemployment of the tube, S, for ascertaining the temperature of themixture of gases, air and steam. The air from the air vessel or a dueproportionV of such air may be employed to reduce the temperature of thggases using the expansive force of the air"h and tempering down the heatto a using point. Making the apparatus almost entirely an air engine,the water surfaces of the boiler serving to preserve the heat frominjuring it while what steam may be formed is used expansively.

In Fig. 3, (Sheet l) I have exhibited a top view of the boiler and itsfurnace, the air and watervessels, I, and P, the air condenser, and theair pump, they being therein represented in their positions with respectto each other. I would remark however, that When the air condenser isdispensed with, the air from the air pump is to be led directly into thevessel, I, through its pipe, w. (See Fig. l, Sheet l.) Such pipe, w, andsuch figure corresponding with the pipes B, of Figs. 2, and 3.

I claiml. So arranging the boiler and stack of tubes ZJ, ZJ, or theirequivalent the tWo chambers C, C', and their respective connectionpipes, M, M; such chamber pipes, and stack of tubes being used for thepurpose of regulating the temperature of the mixture of steam and gasesor producing results substantially as specified.

2. I also claim in combination With the air pump and the furnace thetubular air condenser constructed substantially as described and for thepurpose of reducing the heat of the condensed Aair and relieving the airpump from back pressure substantially as set forth.

3. I claim combining with the coal feeder the distributing valve, f.

4. I do not claim hollow grates, but I claim arranging them on an angleas described in combination With arranging them With and directly undera fuel supplying tube or hopper so that the fuel dropped out of thelatter and upon the inclined grates may be distributed laterally by themas set forth.

5. I claim the combination of the Water surfaces of the closed furnaceWith an eX- tension of the Water surfaces substantially as described, insuch a manner as to produce, and for the purpose of producing a nearlyor quite uniform temperature of and the power to regulate and controlthe temperature of subsaturated steam and the products of combustion forthe supply of an engine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my signature thistwenty-fourth day of October, A. D. 1854.

FRANCIS BROWN BLANCHARD.

Witnesses:

R. II. EDDY, F. P. I-IALE, Jr.

